1992 Honda Civic -- With no lights on my brake lights will work fine. But with either the running or headlights on, they will not work. All the other lights work fine (blinkers, running, headlights, interior, hazards, etc) Any suggestions of what may be wrong here? I've checked the fuses and replaced the bulbs... Let me add that the tail %26amp; head lights were both just changed. Tails first %26amp; no problems. I never thought to re-check the tails once the new headlights were installed. Don't know if that has anything to do with it, but wanted to add that detail in... Any help is definetly appreciated!
With headlights on my brake lights won't work?
It's quite possible that it could be the stop lamp switch. (Located on the brake pedal...usually behind it)
With headlights on my brake lights won't work?
Bad ground connection on the taillight circuit. Circuits that share common parts (The bulb base ground shell and socket in this case) have a tendency to look for a better ground in an adjacent circuit. In this case, even though the taillights and brake lights are on two separate bulb filaments-both filaments share a common ground through the bulb base and socket. Because of this if the taillights can't find a good ground through their own circuit-it'll ground through the adjacent stop light circuit.
Electricity always follows the path of least resistance.
Try removing the taillight/brake light bulbs and cleaning out the socket (wiping it with a bit of WD40 on a rag is good enough.) Make sure there's no corrosion in the socket or bulb base and that no filaments inside the bulbs are loose.
